Olympia 1011

The German typewriter Olympia 1011 (Olympia Werke AG, Wilhelmshaven, 1984) replaced the conventional Chinese typewriter, which was a clumsy device with a number of cases, each with roughly 2500 printing types. The problem of the many thousands of characters had been solved by the new Olympia typing technology: It eliminated the use of printing types by the employment of a typing head with tiny microscopic nozzles which, arranged vertically above each other, jet tiny drops of ink on the paper. In this manner, any possible symbol was typed by the systematic control of the drops of ink. The instructions as to which nozzle was to be triggered at the correct time was controlled by electronic circuits.

From the advertising brochure for the Olympia 1011.

Cutout from the allocation plan of a letter case of the traditional typewriter.

Details of a letter case (mirrored for better reception).

Step by step ink jet printing of a Chinese character.

Section of a Stone MS-2401H keyboard.

Opening ceremony of the Olympic Summergames (Beijing, 2008): Letter movements in a traditional lettercase performed by actors.

In the hometown of our founder a small museum is under development that will show the traditional Chinese typewriter with letter cases, an electric Chinese Stone MS-2401H (SOTEC) and a comprehensive documentation of the German Olympia 1011. It will also hold typewriters especially designed for children, for music notation and braille, along with many serial models before 1900 with different technical solutions. Presentations for classes may be arranged in the near future →

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